there may be a reason
for the loop
in the branch
some kind of tree damage
or illness
but I like to think
the loop is there
because the tree
is being creative
having fun
twisting
and playing
to see just how far
it can go
Picture: Pixabay
trees
hold the knowledge
of the earth
within them
they are the
recorders
of the past
Photo: Veeterzy
Unsplash
every now and then
we come across a magic tree
they’re easy to spot
even if you’re not looking
for them
they seem female
to me
at least in form
ruffling their leaves
and sending out
happy vibes
all trees are magical
but only some of them
are made of magic
and if you do come across one
be sure to share your own magic
with her
they really like that
you just put your arms around her
and lean in
telling her to take what she needs
and don’t worry
they never take too much
it’s just an exchange
of love
and connection
Photo: Peter Herrmann
Unsplash
most people don’t realize that trees
aren’t always what they seem to be
most trees are friendly
helpful
and kind
but others
are just plain
hungry
so when Tod got too close
the tree simply grabbed him
and no matter how hard he tried
he could not escape
the police looked for him
his parents
and their friends
searched high and low
but he was never found
nowadays
every time someone
walks past the tree
they quicken their pace
and think
to themselves
that tree
is definitely
more than it
seems to be
Photo: Ayam Zaker
Unsplash
do the trees sleep in
on mornings like this
drowsing in the mist
enjoying the dewy air
do they snuggle
and pull their branches closer
do they love the silence
that surrounds them
or do they spend their time
dreaming
longing for the sun
there’s is a place called
HUNGRY TREES
it’s a place like no other
it’s beautiful there
the trees are huge
happy and healthy
the reason
of course
is because
each night
they dine
on stars
Photo: Susan Wilkinson
Unsplash
this beauty’s not for everyone
especially at night
the trees look
king of menacing
packed close
and so so tight
for a city girl
it’s hard to breath
the woods go on
forever
and who can say
what lurks beneath
the branches
in that weather
Photo: Michal Janek
Unsplash
“Do you think anyone will come to decorate us this year?” asked tree One.
“No. Do you?” asked Two.
“I’ve given up hoping for that to happen,” sighed Three.
“But maybe this year…” said One.
“I wouldn’t bet my needles on it,” said Three.
The trees were quiet, lost in their own personal tree thoughts.
“Giggle.”
“Did you hear that?” asked One, suddenly alert.
“I did,” said Two, looking around.
“What was that?” asked Three, fear in her voice. “You don’t think they’re coming to cut us down, do you?”
“No,” said One. No one knows we’re here.
“Hi!” said the little girl, who was waving at them.
“Don’t say anything,” whispered Two. “Maybe she’ll just go away.”
“I heard that,” she laughed, covering her mouth with a red mitten.
“No you didn’t,” said Three. “Humans can’t understand our language.”
“I can,” she said, putting her paper bag on the snow.
“What are you doing?” asked One, watching the girl open the bag.
“Well,” she said, pushing her hat off of her eyes, “I heard you talking about wanting decorations so, I made some for you.” She held up paper snowflakes and candy canes. “See,” she said, happily.
The trees held their breath, as the child started placing the ornaments on their branches.
“I can’t reach any higher than that,” she said, backing up. “Sorry.”
The trees stared at her.
“You look beautiful,” she said, her face pink from the cold. “I won’t tell anyone that you’re here, or that you can talk, so don’t worry.”
The trees started to sparkle.
“Wow,” she said. “I didn’t know you could do that.”
“Neither did I,” said Three. “I think it has to do with kindness.”
“And love,” said One.
“Yes,” said Two. “How can we ever thank you for making us beautiful?”
“You can be happy,” she said, dancing in a circle. “If you’re happy, then I’ll be happy and I’ll come back in spring to see how you’re doing.”
“We would like that very much,” said One.
“Kay,” she said, rolling up the empty bag. “I have to go home now.”
“We love you,” said the trees.
“I love you too” said the girl. “Have a nice Christmas.”
“It will be the best Christmas ever, thanks to you,” they said.
She stopped and looked at the trees. “You know that you were always beautiful, don’t you?”
The trees were quiet.
“I mean, you might think you’re more beautiful because I snowflaked you, but the truth is, you were beautiful from the start. You have to remember that, so that when the decorations fade, you wont fade with them.”
Three bent down and said, “We know that. It wasn’t the ornaments, it was you, little one. And you won’t ever fade from our thoughts. Now pick up an pinecone from each of us and put them in your bag, so that when you look at them, you’ll think of us…thinking of you.”
The girl did as she was told and many, many years later, the pinecones still sat next to her bed. Every winter she made paper snowflakes and candy canes to put on their branches. And even though she could reach much higher, the trees had grown so tall, that she still just decorated their bottom branches. And that was fine with everyone.
Rethinking Life 
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